Its all over now

Well I've been back a week now and have had time to reflect on how great the Panto was. IT WAS GREAT. In every aspect. Cast, crew, audiences, band ......everyone. We broke all the targets set by the theatre and by Qdos (the producers) We played to 92,000 people. We banked £1.5 gross and,on the whole, received great reviews. When I say on the whole as usual the usual complaints came from the usual critics.....the story is not the one we expected.... not enough "he's behind you" moments. When will they realise we don't do it like that. Paul and I make a point of not doing the old stuff. Lo and behold Tom (I don't like Allan Stewart) Dibden was very complimentary. Anyway the bottom line is in the reaction from the audience and on some nights it was like a Hampden football crowd. The new kids in the show couldn't believe it.

So I arrived home and was very healthy and full of energy....not what I expected. We had no illness at all during the run. Susan Boyle came to see the show but we couldn't think of a way of bringing her up on stage. The last time it fitted in perfectly but not this time. Still its lovely that she comes to see us every year. I wish her all the luck with her musical. Andy is in the show so I will be going up to see it when it opens.

I'm doing a Gala show (as Jolson) in Newcastle Royal Theatre on the 19th of Feb. then a couple of corporates, then off to LA for a break before I launch back into a very busy season with Cunard, my favourite cruise line. Couldn't believe the terrible Costa accident. However I'm not in the least worried about cruising that was...I'm sure, a one off.

David will have a new album released in the spring and it will be a free download. It has some incredible features on it. Some of the countries top stars have joined forces with him. Cant say too much just now.

Ok that's about it. Thanks again for supporting one of the top grossing pantos in the country.... and that includes England. Oh by the way lets not be silly out there..... lets all stay part of the United Kingdom.

a long time

Hi,

Its been a long time since I have written. Mainly because I have been so busy with the panto. We opened and it took a few shows to tighten it all up and get it into a state that I was happy with. I am happy to say we are storming the packed houses now. Its amazing. Every night its rammed to the top of the Gods. we are about to pass the target figure and we still have 3 weeks to go. And,........ a good review from the Man....yes Dibden. I cant believe it. We have had the usual crits about the story not being the same as the original but we never do that. You would think that they would have accepted that by now. Anyway the audiences say it all and the emails and tweets confirm the roars of approval.

Had a great Christmas. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without M and S.....it would be Chrita.....get it. We stayed at my favourite Hotel, Prestonfield with the family and then the kids went back to London for new year. Jane and her mum stayed up and we had a wonderful Hogmanay dinner with my sister and brother in law and Andy Gray and his lovely lady Claire. We didn't stop laughing. Andy is great company and completely mad.

So its the run down now. Cant believe how quickly it all goes by. Then its a break..... a holiday .... and then back to Cunard.

I have booked the Kings next year for the premier of my new play 'Aunty May's big day'. That is if Andy is available. Its a play about May and her Husband Hughie both secretly going in for Britain's Got Talent.... and their every day life leading up to the the actual audition. So lets hope it all comes together. Its been languishing in my computer for a long time now.

Ok

Bye for now